Ordeal of Guru Bhakti

Aum Sairam

Somebody brought a goat to the Masjid. It was weak, old and about to die. At this time Fakir Pir Mohammad of Malegaon alias Bade Baba was near. Sri Sai Baba asked him to behead it with one stroke, and offer it as an oblation. This Bade Baba was much respected by Sri Sai Baba. He always sat on the right hand of Sri Sai Baba. After the chillum [clay pipe] was first smoked by him, it was then offered to Sri Sai Baba and others. After the dishes were served, at the time of taking meals at noon, Sri Sai Baba respectfully called Bade Baba and made him sit on His left side, and then all partook of food. Sri Sai Baba paid him also daily Rs 50/- out of the amount collected as Dakshina. Sri Sai Baba accompanied him hundred paces whenever he was going away. Such was his position with Sri Sai Baba. But when Sri Sai Baba asked him to behead the goat, he flatly refused, saying, Why it should be killed for nothing?

Then Sri Sai Baba asked Shama to kill it. He went to Radha-Krishna-Mai and brought a knife from her and placed it before Sri Sai Baba. Knowing the purpose for which the knife was taken, she recalled it. Then Shama went to bring another knife, but stayed in the Wada, and did not return soon.

Then came the turn of Kakasaheb Dixit. He was good gold no doubt, but had to be tested. Sri Sai Baba asked him to get a knife and kill the goat He went to Sathe's Wada and returned with a knife. He was ready to kill it at Sri Sai Baba's bidding. He was born in a pure Brahmin family and never in his life knew killing. Though quite averse to do any act of violence, he made himself bold to kill the goat. All the people wondered to see that Bade Baba a Mohammedan was unwilling to kill it while this pure Brahmin was making preparations to do so. He tightened his dhotar and with a semicircular motion raised his hand with the knife and looked at Sri Sai Baba for the final signal. Sri Sai Baba said what are you thinking of? Go on, strike. Then, when the hand was just about to come down, Sri Sai Baba said stop,

how cruel you are! Being a Brahmin, you are killing a goat? Kakasaheb obeyed and kept the knife down and said to Sri Sai Baba Your nectar like word is law unto us, we do not know any other ordinance. We remember You and always, meditate on Your form and obey You day and night, we do not know or consider whether it is right or wrong to kill, we do not want to reason or discuss things, but implicit and prompt compliance with Guru's orders, is our duty and dharma.

Then Sri Sai Baba said to Kakaseheb, that He would Himself do the offering and killing business. It was settled that the goat should be disposed of near a place called Takkya, where fakirs used to sit. When the goat was being removed to that place, it fell dead on the way.

There are of three kinds of disciples [1] First or best [2] Second or middling and [3] Third or ordinary. The best kind of disciples are those who guess what their Gurus want and immediately carry it out and serve them without waiting for an order from them. The average disciples are those who carry out the orders of their Masters to a letter, without any delay, and the third kind of disciples are those, who go on postponing the carrying out of their orders and making mistakes at every step.

The disciples should have firm faith, backed up by intelligence and if they and patience to these, their spiritual goal will not be distant. Control of breath -- ingoing and outgoing, or Hath-Yoga or other difficult practices are not at all necessary. When the disciples get the above-mentioned qualities, they become ready for further instructions and the Masters then appear and lead them on, in their spiritual path to perfection.

Allah Malik